Listen to Lead — Hearing Others
Listen to Lead — Hearing Others
Listen to Lead — Hearing Others
Listen to Lead — Hearing Others
One of the greatest privileges of a leader is being able to hear and see others deeply. True listening involves most of our senses and all of our brains. Listening actively involves our highest cognitive abilities and deepest emotional intelligence in order to understand those we lead.
One of the greatest privileges of a leader is being able to hear and see others deeply. That is why we have to listen effectively.
Leadership is taking people from where they are to where they need to go. We can’t lead people without knowing them, and we can’t know people without listening to them.
True listening involves most of our senses and all of our brains. Listening actively involves our highest cognitive abilities and deepest emotional intelligence in order to understand those we lead. Hear what great leaders say about listening:
“I believe a good leader brings out the best in people by listening to them, trusting in them, believing in them, respecting them, and letting them have a go.” - Richard Branson
"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said.” - Peter Drucker
“Speaking up and asking good questions tells the other person that you’ve not only heard what they have to say, but you understood it well enough to want additional information.” - Amy Gallo
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” - [.no-reftag]James 1:19[.no-reftag]
“Therefore consider carefully how you listen.” - Jesus from [.no-reftag]Luke 8:18[.no-reftag]
In our previous article, “Listen to Lead — Hearing God", we learned that God desires to have an active conversation with us through His word. Everything God offers is good. As we listen, we hear what God is asking us to receive, what He is offering us, and how to lead others in the very same way Jesus is leading us.
A result of listening and staying connected to God is leading others the way we were made to lead them — bearing fruit that lasts (John 15:16).
Yet, it's wrong to say that only listening to God is enough. God wants us to listen to the people He has given us to lead and serve — this is an act of worship (Romans 12:1), this is loving our neighbor (Luke 10:36), and this is how we love others as Jesus loves us (John 15:17).
Listen to Love/Serve Others
“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." - [.no-reftag]Luke 8:15[.no-reftag]
Those who hear and follow Jesus know that their highest earthly purpose is to glorify God by pointing others to Jesus — producing a crop thirty, sixty, and a hundred times over.
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. [.text-style-link]Therefore consider carefully how you listen.[.text-style-link] Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” - [.no-reftag]Luke 8:16-18[.no-reftag]
As we listen to Jesus, we learn God’s heart for others and the purpose He has given us to love and serve them — producing a crop for the kingdom of God. Our daily work is often our very best opportunity to follow His commands and lead others to Jesus.
Doing excellent work leads to blessing others, which leads to Jesus. And excellent work starts with listening.
As followers of Jesus, we listen to Him (John 10:27). This gives us a distinct advantage as He commands us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). To love others as we love ourselves, we must get to know them as we know ourselves.
Our work gives us an unlimited opportunity to serve others, but we can’t serve them if we don’t understand them. To understand them, we must see them and listen to them. As a result, we must consider carefully how we listen.
Listen Actively
We cannot serve, bless, and love others if we don’t listen to them well. Our listening leads to hearing and understanding the needs of others.
We must stop having competitive, self-serving conversations. Let’s begin listening to those who need our help. If you want to master active listening, listen to serve.
In her article "What is Active Listening", Amy Gallo of Harvard Business Review explains that “active listening is when you not only hear what someone is saying, but also attune to their thoughts and feelings. It turns a conversation into an active, non-competitive, two-way interaction.”
In the accompanying video, she gives us 6 points to master the art of active listening:
The Art of Active Listening
Here are Amy’s 6 points with a way to listen on mission:
1. How do I usually listen? — Am I trying to just get the job done, or am I a critical listener trying to build a relationship?
2. Why do I need to listen right now? — Do I understand the value of the moment and the value of the person? Can I adjust my style based on what is most needed to lead or serve the person I’m talking to? Reflecting on the goals of our work and the needs of the person I am talking to will help us listen without a biased agenda.
3. Who is the focus of attention in the conversation? - If the focus is the other person and their needs, my personal stories may get in the way and not allow the other person to be heard. Keep the focus on what they are seeking. Listen loudly with confirmations and positive, affirmative body language.
4. What am I missing? — Ask questions when the focus of the conversation is not clear. Try to understand exactly what they are seeking from the conversation. Find out their most pressing concern or need, and then offer help.
5. Am I getting in my own way? - Quiet your own internal monologue and insecurities in order to leave space to hear what the other person is saying.
6. Am I in an information bubble? — Is the person holding back because they think you don’t understand their needs or the needs of the organization? Senior managers can seem aloof and out of touch if they don’t ask open questions and give body language that they’re ready to receive. Let them know teamwork and trust is valued above all perceived hierarchies.
As we improve our ability to actively listen, we will know and value people even more. As we grow more attentive to others, we grow more caring. As we grow more caring, we are able to serve people with what they need, now. Open the door and introduce them to the One who loves us all more than we can think or imagine!
Resources:
Video: "How to Listen Actively" | Howard Graham
Article: "Listen to Lead — Hearing God"
Video: "How to Communicate with God"
Article: "Value Exchange"
Video: "How To Grow in Value to Others" | Howard Graham
Video: "6 Questions to Find Out How Your Employees Are Really Doing" | Harvard Business Review
Article: "What Is Active Listening?" | Amy Gallo, Harvard Business Review
Video: "The Art of Active Listening" | Amy Gallo, Harvard Business Review
Article: "The Surprising Power of Questions" | Alison Wood Brooks and Leslie K. John
One of the greatest privileges of a leader is being able to hear and see others deeply. That is why we have to listen effectively.
Leadership is taking people from where they are to where they need to go. We can’t lead people without knowing them, and we can’t know people without listening to them.
True listening involves most of our senses and all of our brains. Listening actively involves our highest cognitive abilities and deepest emotional intelligence in order to understand those we lead. Hear what great leaders say about listening:
“I believe a good leader brings out the best in people by listening to them, trusting in them, believing in them, respecting them, and letting them have a go.” - Richard Branson
"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said.” - Peter Drucker
“Speaking up and asking good questions tells the other person that you’ve not only heard what they have to say, but you understood it well enough to want additional information.” - Amy Gallo
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” - [.no-reftag]James 1:19[.no-reftag]
“Therefore consider carefully how you listen.” - Jesus from [.no-reftag]Luke 8:18[.no-reftag]
In our previous article, “Listen to Lead — Hearing God", we learned that God desires to have an active conversation with us through His word. Everything God offers is good. As we listen, we hear what God is asking us to receive, what He is offering us, and how to lead others in the very same way Jesus is leading us.
A result of listening and staying connected to God is leading others the way we were made to lead them — bearing fruit that lasts (John 15:16).
Yet, it's wrong to say that only listening to God is enough. God wants us to listen to the people He has given us to lead and serve — this is an act of worship (Romans 12:1), this is loving our neighbor (Luke 10:36), and this is how we love others as Jesus loves us (John 15:17).
Listen to Love/Serve Others
“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." - [.no-reftag]Luke 8:15[.no-reftag]
Those who hear and follow Jesus know that their highest earthly purpose is to glorify God by pointing others to Jesus — producing a crop thirty, sixty, and a hundred times over.
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. [.text-style-link]Therefore consider carefully how you listen.[.text-style-link] Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” - [.no-reftag]Luke 8:16-18[.no-reftag]
As we listen to Jesus, we learn God’s heart for others and the purpose He has given us to love and serve them — producing a crop for the kingdom of God. Our daily work is often our very best opportunity to follow His commands and lead others to Jesus.
Doing excellent work leads to blessing others, which leads to Jesus. And excellent work starts with listening.
As followers of Jesus, we listen to Him (John 10:27). This gives us a distinct advantage as He commands us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). To love others as we love ourselves, we must get to know them as we know ourselves.
Our work gives us an unlimited opportunity to serve others, but we can’t serve them if we don’t understand them. To understand them, we must see them and listen to them. As a result, we must consider carefully how we listen.
Listen Actively
We cannot serve, bless, and love others if we don’t listen to them well. Our listening leads to hearing and understanding the needs of others.
We must stop having competitive, self-serving conversations. Let’s begin listening to those who need our help. If you want to master active listening, listen to serve.
In her article "What is Active Listening", Amy Gallo of Harvard Business Review explains that “active listening is when you not only hear what someone is saying, but also attune to their thoughts and feelings. It turns a conversation into an active, non-competitive, two-way interaction.”
In the accompanying video, she gives us 6 points to master the art of active listening:
The Art of Active Listening
Here are Amy’s 6 points with a way to listen on mission:
1. How do I usually listen? — Am I trying to just get the job done, or am I a critical listener trying to build a relationship?
2. Why do I need to listen right now? — Do I understand the value of the moment and the value of the person? Can I adjust my style based on what is most needed to lead or serve the person I’m talking to? Reflecting on the goals of our work and the needs of the person I am talking to will help us listen without a biased agenda.
3. Who is the focus of attention in the conversation? - If the focus is the other person and their needs, my personal stories may get in the way and not allow the other person to be heard. Keep the focus on what they are seeking. Listen loudly with confirmations and positive, affirmative body language.
4. What am I missing? — Ask questions when the focus of the conversation is not clear. Try to understand exactly what they are seeking from the conversation. Find out their most pressing concern or need, and then offer help.
5. Am I getting in my own way? - Quiet your own internal monologue and insecurities in order to leave space to hear what the other person is saying.
6. Am I in an information bubble? — Is the person holding back because they think you don’t understand their needs or the needs of the organization? Senior managers can seem aloof and out of touch if they don’t ask open questions and give body language that they’re ready to receive. Let them know teamwork and trust is valued above all perceived hierarchies.
As we improve our ability to actively listen, we will know and value people even more. As we grow more attentive to others, we grow more caring. As we grow more caring, we are able to serve people with what they need, now. Open the door and introduce them to the One who loves us all more than we can think or imagine!
Resources:
Video: "How to Listen Actively" | Howard Graham
Article: "Listen to Lead — Hearing God"
Video: "How to Communicate with God"
Article: "Value Exchange"
Video: "How To Grow in Value to Others" | Howard Graham
Video: "6 Questions to Find Out How Your Employees Are Really Doing" | Harvard Business Review
Article: "What Is Active Listening?" | Amy Gallo, Harvard Business Review
Video: "The Art of Active Listening" | Amy Gallo, Harvard Business Review
Article: "The Surprising Power of Questions" | Alison Wood Brooks and Leslie K. John